The General Workers’ Union will discuss with the new management of the Crowne Plaza Hotel only if there are no impositions on the union, said Secretary General Tony Zarb yesterday while addressing employees of the former hotel.

Mr Zarb said the union is willing to negotiate on condition that before implementing certain measures, these would have been negotiated with the union. He said he still remembers the first meeting between the GWU and the new management in which it guaranteed the workplace of the employees and hinted that additional workers could be taken on board.

The secretary general said the union cannot accept the fact that workers who are highly trained in the tourism industry have been given jobs of manual labourers. Mr Zarb said these employees were not trained as manual labourers; they do not have any experience in the field and are exposed to danger.

Mr Zarb also appealed to the government, which through its shareholding in former hotel owner Air Malta, is also a shareholder in the Crowne Plaza, to act.

The union is holding daily internal meetings about the situation, Mr Zarb assured the employees, while he asked them to stand united behind the GWU.

He assured them that the GWU will do anything in its powers and within the remit of the law to protect their interests.